202 TUE SMALLER BRLTISIL BLRDS. 



instead of such being the case, it is a wonderful instance of the 



perfect manner in which the Creator has fitted everything for the 



purpose it is intended to accomplish. The Crossbill subsists chiefly 



on the seeds of the pine and fir, which, being contained in hard 



scaly coverings, could not possibly be removed by a bird's beak of 



ordinary construction. In order to obtain them, this bird brings the 



points of its mandibles together, and thus reduced in compass inserts 



thorn between the scales of the conesj then separating the points, 



forcibly closing the mandibles, and working them sideways, the scales 



are wrenched open by the points acting in opposite directions. The 



seeds are then taken out by means of another wonderful organ, the 



tongue, which is specially adapted for the purpose, by having an 



additional portion, formed partly of bones, and of a scoop shape, 



jointed on to the end. The Comuion Crossbill has been met with in 



all parts of the British Isles, generally appearing in large flocks, and 



sometimes doing considerable damage in the apple orchards, but its 



coming and going are very irregular. In certain years it has been 



very plentiful, and in others not a specimen has been seen. The 



Parrot Crossbill, so named from its remarkably strong, short, and 



curved beak, is a much rarer visitor to our shores, although it is 



sometimes moderately abundant in Germany. The remaining species, 



the American and Two-barred Crossbills, have only been met with in 



a few instances in this country. As these birds are very similar in 



general appearance it seems a matter of doubt, with several of the 



specimens taken, as to which of the two species they really belong, 



